Julia DiMartino still has two years of high school softball in front of her, but the Brockport pitcher has already given a verbal commitment to play for Liberty University, according to Blue Devils coach, Chris Carr. Liberty, which is located in Virginia and plays in the Big South Conference, hired former UCLA shortstop and United States Olympic star, Dot Richardson, as head coach in July. DiMartino also had been recruited by such major colleges as Ohio State and Penn State. Last spring she was named first-team all-state, the All-Greater Rochester co-Player of the Year and Monroe County Division III Player of Year after powering Blue Devils to first Section V title since 1998 (Class AA). She posted 310 strikeouts in 160 innings and a 0.70 ERA while batting .539 with 30 RBI, 16 doubles and 4 home runs. She carries a 91 academic average.

At least one college coaching staff likes what it sees of Charlie Shuman, a Panthers guard/tackle who is about 6-foot-6 and 295 pounds.

Shuman is impressed too, as the Pittsford Sutherland senior said on July 24 that he will accept an offer of an athletic scholarship from Old Dominion University in Virginia.

Old Dominion plays this upcoming season in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision, before it joins Conference USA in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2014.

“We run a lot of downhill stuff and he’s tremendous,” Molinich said about Shuman. “He moves people.

“He’s so big and long, and he’s not done growing yet.”

Shuman made what is called a verbal commitment, which becomes binding when he signs a national letter of intent. The period when high school football players in Shuman’s graduation class can sign begins Feb. 5.

Section V wrestling have grip: Union-Endicott wrestling coach Josh Ruff confirmed on July 24 that Brockport, Hilton and Spencerport are all but in the field for the Union-Endicott Duals, Jan. 4-5 outside of Binghamton.

Each of the teams must pay an entry fee by Sept. 15.

The U-E Duals is one of the tournaments that shapes the state rankings. Teams are invited or must apply for entry.

Another team expected to be a part of the 16-team field is Clarence of Section VI, coached by Rush-Henrietta graduate Jason Chase.

Throw-ins: Bishop Kearney graduate Antwoine Anderson, the 2013 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Boys Basketball Player of the Year, and former Rush-Henrietta standout Mandell Thomas are roommates this summer at Fordham University in New York City. Thomas, who will be a sophomore, was AGR co-player of the year in 2011. . . . Aquinas graduate Aarika Kaester plans to continue to play lacrosse at Division II Queens University of Charlotte (N.C.) after she scored a team-high 88 goals last season. … The New York State Sportswriters Association reports that seven juniors in New York State have given verbal commitments to play men’s lacrosse at Ohio State, including Pittsford midfielder Brandon Barker and Webster Thomas goalie Willie Klan.

The coaches at Brockport, Hilton and Spencerport said that their teams have either been invited to, or applied for, positions in the lineup for what will be the 31-year old Union-Endicott Duals tournament.

“The competition our team faces prepares them for any post-season competition they may see,” Brockport coach Mike Ferris said about the event just outside of Binghamton, Broome County.

Union-Endicott coaches are expected to announce the lineup before the end of the month for the tournament in January. State-ranked teams from the previous season and with strong returning lineups have the strongest chance of getting in.

Brockport is in line to get a position for the fourth consecutive year, according to Ferris.

The Blue Devils’ lineup is expected to be anchored by senior Barton Peters at 126 or

Peters

132 pounds. Peters is a three-time qualifier for the state tournament, and this winter will be his last chance at a top-six finish.

“He needs to get on a podium at the state tournament,” Ferris said. “He’s that caliber of a kid.

“He could be our first four-time qualifier, if he goes.”

Brockport lightweight Barton Peters, on top, is a three-time qualifier for the state tournament. SHAWN DOWD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Brockport was a honorable mention in the final 2013 New York State Sportswriters Association large schools state rankings, which are based mostly on dual meets. The Blue Devils could be awarded a spot based on recent past performances.

Wins over two state-ranked teams at the 2012 U-E Duals helped vault Brockport to No. 8 in the state.

Hilton also was outside of the final 2013 state rankings, but have four wrestlers who reached last year’s state tournament, including Division I 99-pound Division I champion Yianni Diakomihalis.

It is a long shot, but two-time state runner-up Vincent DePrez could face his brother Anthony durign the Journeyman Classic in late September. KRIS J. MURANTED/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Anthony and two-time state runner-up Vincent DePrez plan to wrestle at the Journeyman Wrestling Classic in Niskayuna during September and the Super 32 Challenge Tournament in Greensboro, N.C. a month later.

Collin Pittman, Trent Egenlauf and Jonathan Haas, each state tournament qualifiers last season, should be back in the Spencerport lineup. The Rangers have been steady participants at the U-E Duals since the early 2000s.

Four former area high school lacrosse stars are playing in the Women’s World Cup for lacrosse, which starts Thursday in Oshawa, Canada.

Pittsford’s Ali Curwin is a midfielder for Israel, which faces Germany on Thursday. The United States, which

Taylor D'Amore, right, is one of three former Canandaigua lacrosse players at the Women's World Cup in Canada. ERICA THUM/ITHACA JOURNAL STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

includes former Canandaigua standout Taylor D’Amore, opens up against England and Canada, which includes sisters Abbey and Mandy Friend of Canandaigua. Canada plays its opener Friday against Australia.

The championship is scheduled for July 20. For the full schedule, go to www.2013worldlacrosse.com. (By Jeff DiVeronica, Staff writer)

Event to help family of ER man: Family and friends of East Rochester’s Jeff Miller, who died June 2 after being struck in his car by a fallen tree, are holding a “Tough Miller” fund-raiser from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday at Crossfit Rochester, 3750 Monroe Ave.

There will be boys and girls lacrosse clinics at noon, a men’s game at 1:30 p.m., a crossfit workout and obstacle course challenge at 2:30 p.m. and live music at 4 p.m.

Proceeds will go into an education fund for Miller’s three children. An account has been established at Canandaigua National Bank & Trust. One of Mr. Miller’s daughters plays in the Pittsford lacrosse program. (By Jeff DiVeronica, Staff writer)

Former Brockport High School varsity basketball coaches Charles Hage (boys) and Jack Hogan (girls) are hosting their annual basketball camp at Brockport Middle School from July 8-12 for players of all age groups, from kindergarten all the way through high school. Campers get a T-shirt and basketball. Cost is $90 for Brockport residents and $95 for non-residents for children in grades 3-12. Special rates for kindergarten through 2nd graders, only $35 for residents and $40 for non-residents. New and special this year is an appearance on July 9 of Mike Kelly, the president and founder of HOOPS 101. He was a Division 1 college basketball coach for seven years in the New York City area. He’ll conducting a brief demonstration followed by several stations of skill instruction for the boys and girls at the camp. To sign up for the camp, go to the Sweden-Clarkson Recreation Center, 4927 Lake Road or call 431-0090 or online www.swedenclarksonrec.com. The clinic is free of charge to anyone. Here’s the breakdown below on times, Monday – Friday.

By the count of McQuaid volleyball’s Christopher Parks, the number of Knights that he has coached who have become members of a USA Volleyball Youth National team is up to three.

That number was one until Monday, when senior setter/outside hitter Christy Blough and junior outside hitter Colby Harriman made the 12-man roster for

McQuaid senior Christy Blough was the 2012 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Boys Volleyball Player of the Year. ANNETTE LEIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

the boys under-18 team. USA Volleyball reduced the roster from 19 in Colorado Springs, before the team leaves June 20 for the FIVB Under-19 World Championships in Mexico.

“This area has had many players on youth national teams,” Webster coach and Section V boys volleyball assistant coordinator Greg Kennedy said. “Not two people at the same time, and not two people from the same high school.”

Blough, listed at 6-foot-6 inches tall, was captain of the USA Volleyball team last July that qualified for the world championships coming up on June 27-July 7. The 2012 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year, a resident of Ontario in Wayne County, is headed to Ohio State.

McQuaid junior Colby Harriman tried out for the USA Volleyball Youth National Team last year. SHAWN DOWD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Harriman, who is listed at 6-5, also was named to the 2012 AGR team and Most Valuable Player of the Section V Class A tournament, after his first season as a starter with the Knights. He is expected to return to McQuaid, which has won the last three Division I state and sectional Class A championships.

“(Colby) just picked the game a couple of years ago,” Kennedy said. “Both of them have shown so much dedication in learning the game, and with different sources.

“Those two are outstanding in showing (younger players) what they know. (McQuaid graduate and former AGR Player of the Year Steve O’Dell) was like that.”

Harriman’s success in making the final cut for the USA Volleyball boys 19-under team is a jump of at least three levels in the system after he was assigned to a development camp during the series of tryouts last year.

“I think that he’s definitely matured as a player, he’s a much smarter player,” Blough said. “It was just a matter of experience.”

So when the Section V boys volleyball season opens this fall, the McQuaid Knights could have a national youth team member on its roster for the second consecutive year. Harriman is one of just two starters expected back.

Brockport senior Denzel Knight scored 28 touchdowns during his final season with the Blue Devils. KRIS J. MURANTE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“Every year is a different year,” Parks said. “We have a lot of respect for Penfield and Fairport.”

Football commitments: No doubt, balloons from national signing day celebrations during the first week of February are flat.

There is still football recruiting news however, even if the deadline for signing national letters of intent came and went on April 1. Not all of it has anything to do with the Football Bowl Subdivision, commonly known as Division I.

Here are the college destinations for members of the 2012 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Football Team:

Denzel Knight (Brockport running back): The 2012 AGR Player of the Year’s plan is to spend a year at Salisbury Prep in Maryland.

Penfield junior Margot Hetzke has given a verbal commitment to play basketball for Siena College. The 5-foot-11 forward has led the Patriots to three straight Monroe County league titles, a Section V title and state runner-up finish in 2012 and a Section V Class AA runner-up finish to Gates Chili this past season. She averaged 19 points and nine rebounds. A fourth-team all-state pick, she already has amassed 1,461 points and 743 rebounds in her career. She and shooting guard Lucy Covley are expected to be the only returning starters for the Patriots next season, but Covley averaged 13.9 points and Penfield has a deep roster with players ready to step into starting roles.

CHARITY SOFTTBALL GAME: Fairport will play Brockport in the “Battle of the Ports Charity Game” on Saturday at 7 p.m. under the lights at Kreag Road Park in Perinton just off Route 490. A portion of the proceeds will go to support the Heather Boyum Memorial Children’s Education Fund in honor of the Fairport teacher who died while riding her bike last summer. The other portion will go to support Team Taylor, which is set up to help the family of Brockport junior Taylor Mateo, who was diagnosed last year with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She played softball there. A donation of $3 will be asked for at the gate per person, $10 for families, or $2 with a student ID.

The Webster Thomas and Pittsford hockey teams are holding fund-raisers at upcoming games.

The 5:30 p.m. “Honor Our Heroes” game vs. Victor at Webster Ice Arena on Jan. 11 will raise funds for CDS Monarch Warrior Salute Program. The Thomas Titans will wear camouflage jerseys to honor all service men and women, including EMTs and first-responders.

Pittsford’s 7 p.m. game on Feb. 2 against Thomas is its fourth annual “Pink The Rink,” game to benefit the Breast Cancer Coaliation of Rochester. Both teams will don special pink jerseys. For more information, go to www.pittsfordhockey.org.

— By Jeff DiVeronica

What’s next , Red Raiders?: Fairport, undefeated and motivated, topped its seventh opponent by double-digits when it defeated Bishop Kearney 59-45 on Jan. 3 to improve to 8-0.

The crowd of 1,392 fans probably was larger than the attendance at Fairport’s quarterfinal round exit from last season’s sectionals.

“It was a great win,” Fairport senior guard Brian Sortino said. “It was hyped all week. It’s probably one of the best atmospheres I’ve played in.”

The Red Raiders hardly have the look of a one-and-done team this winter.

“We had the potential to do this last year,” Fairport senior forward/guard Tyler LePore said.

Fairport nearly had four players score in double figures again, after LePore finished with nine points, all of which came on 3-pointers. Eli Jones (21.5 points per game), Alex Doche (14.5), Joe Masino (10.5) and Sortino (12.1) are Fairport’s leading scorers.

“We had the potential to do this last year,” LePore said. “This year, we’ve been together.”

Fairport’s games against Rush-Henrietta have a history as crowd magnets, too.

The Red Raiders could find themselves in front of another filled gymnasium at Fairport against Rush-Henrietta, 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9.

Rush-Henrietta (5-1), also one-and-done in last season’s Section V Class AA1 Tournament after three sectional championships in four years, may be on its way back to form.

Fairport took over the No. 1 position in the Democrat and Chronicle‘s large schools boys basketball poll just before its win over No. 2 Bishop Kearney (2-3), the previous local top-ranked team.

Jeff DiVeronica has covered Section V for the Democrat and Chronicle since 1994. A native of Canastota, N.Y., where he played soccer, basketball and baseball, “Devo” began his career at the Chillicothe (Ohio) Gazette before returning to Rochester in 1993. The St. John Fisher College graduate also covers the Rochester Rhinos soccer team and Syracuse University basketball. He founded the Canandaigua National Bank High School Sports Show, which airs Saturdays at noon on WHTK-AM (1280), in 2003. E-mail Jeff at jdiveron@DemocratandChronicle.com.Follow:@RocDevo

James Johnson has covered Section V for the Democrat and Chronicle since 1996. The St. John Fisher College and Edison graduate also has provided features and game stories tied to NASCAR, professional golf, baseball, hockey, boxing and tennis. His career began in 1995 at the Press-Sun Bulletin in Binghamton, where he helped cover Section IV high school sports. E-mail James at jamesj@DemocratandChronicle.com.Follow:@jjDandC